This is the joint website of Women Against Rape and Black Women's Rape Action Project. Both organisations are based on self-help and provide support, legal information and advocacy. We campaign for justice and protection for all women and girls, including asylum seekers, who have suffered sexual, domestic and/or racist violence.

WAR was founded in 1976. It has won changes in the law, such as making rape in marriage a crime, set legal precedents and achieved compensation for many women. BWRAP was founded in 1991. It focuses on getting justice for women of colour, bringing out the particular discrimination they face. It has prevented the deportation of many rape survivors. Both organisations are multiracial.

Black Women's Rape Action Project

Founded in 1991, we are one of the few Black women's organisations specialising in offering counselling, support and advice to Black women and other women of colour, immigrant and refugee women, who have suffered rape, sexual assault or other violence

Greetings from London, where women, the majority rape survivors, have been protesting against detention and deportation at Yarl’s Wood detention centre. On 15 June international day of action over sixty of us had a speak out which women inside joined via our sound system, while we demonstrated at the gate. A few days later, a young brother and sister and nine women were released.

Women currently held in Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre who want to give evidence to Members of Parliament from the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee about rape and sexual abuse by guards, have issued a set of demands to protect themselves from reprisals. Ms N commented: "It takes a lot of courage to complain about abuse knowing that your life is in the hands of the person you are accusing.”

Multinationals Serco and G4S are being questioned today at 4pm by the Home Affairs Committee about their running of Immigration Detention Centres. High on the agenda must be what Keith Vaz, chair of the Committee called “shocking revelations” of rape and sexual assault in Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre which is run by Serco.

Women who have been held in Yarl’s Wood, some of whom who have been victims of the abuse or witnessed it are attending the hearing to call for the Committee to hear their testimony. They and women currently in Yarl’s Wood are available for interview.

We are an organisation of Dalit and Adivasi women. We condemn the rapes and murders of the two young Dalit girls in Uttar Pradesh. They have not arrested all the people responsible. The government has to give justice to the girls and their families. Many women's organisations in India are protesting and demanding justice. Left political parties are supporting this case as well as Mayawati, a Dalit woman leader from the Uttar Pradesh parliament. In Chhattisgarh girls and women are also raped. We help Dalit and Tribal women report rape and demand the police take statements, gather evidence and bring a prosecution of the rapist.

9-11 am Tuesday 10 June 2014

“Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict”
ExCeL Centre, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1XL
Jubilee Line to Canning Town, take DLR towards Beckton, get off at Custom House.

The UK government is hosting an international three day conference “Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict”. Foreign minister William Hague claims it “is in our hands to treat victims not as social outcasts, but as courageous survivors”. But when “courageous” women escape rape in war zones and seek asylum and protection in the UK they face hostility, disbelief and being slandered as “bogus” and “scroungers”.

70% of women who contact us from Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre are rape survivors often from war and conflict zones. They’re often locked up in conditions reminiscent of those they fled, denied lawyers and other expert support. Some have bravely spoken out about sexual assault by guards. That’s why we’re endorsing this protest.